Announcing the winners of the YUNGA International Drawing Competition!

Over 2800 children and youth aged 6 to 20 years of age from over 60 countries participated in this year’s Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) International Drawing Competition. By taking part in this global contest and exploring the proposed topic, forest biodiversity, participants have contributed to the objectives of the "International Year of Forests 2011” to raise awareness on the vital role forests play in our lives.

The overall winner of the competition is Naylee Nagda, 15 years old, from Nairobi, Kenya. As the grand prize winner Naylee will be invited on an expenses paid trip to collect her prize at an international event.

The competition winners will receive a special certificate from the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA). The winning drawings and other entries will be used to educate people about the importance of forests, including biodiversity, in various publications and outreach material such as logos, posters, T-shirts, etc.

Participants’ diverse and impressive works of art illustrated everyday actions that can contribute to preserving forest biodiversity or interactions between species and forest ecosystems on local and global scales. Drawings were judged based on criteria such as imageries of interactions, unity and fragility of forest biodiversity. The selection process was led by biodiversity experts, graphic designers and other staff from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

The artwork of the finalists and winners can be viewed on the FAO website. To find out more about other United Nations activities and resources for children and young people go to www.yunga.org or register for the free news alert by sending an e-mail to YUNGA@fao.org.